I'm M'kali-Hashiki — an author, sensitivity reader, and embodied-wellness coach & consultant.
I am a Black, fat, queer middle-aged storyteller who works with the erotic—in Audre Lorde's sense of our deepest life force—as a source of power, healing, and radical transformation. After about a decade in social justice nonprofits, burnout taught me what happens when activism loses touch with the body, and I rebuilt my work around somatic practice.
I have nearly two decades of somatic training & over 2 decades of published writing. I believe personal and collective liberation can't be separated, and that both begin in the body. That belief informs everything I do.
Long-form writing and editorial collaboration, with a focus on identity, embodiment, and the stories bodies carry that don't always make it to the page.
Current: editorial team, Sinister Wisdom volume printing the lost issue of On Our Backs
As a sensitivity reader, I review unpublished work for conscious and unconscious bias against marginalized communities. The aim is authenticity and avoiding unintended harm.
As a wellness consultant, I lead online somatic breathwork sessions for groups of any size, including companies, nonprofits, universities, and membership organizations. Sessions help teams regulate their nervous systems together, reduce stress, and build trust and resilience without grinding through exhaustion, with room left for joy. One-time sessions are available, and ongoing quarterly or semi-annual sessions help a group build a lasting practice.
One-on-one coaching for writers, visual artists, performers, musicians, dancers, and other creatives who are stuck or cut off from their creative energy. Breathwork and embodiment practices help work through blocks and keep a practice going. Project coaching supports timeline-driven work, such as a book, play, album, or choreography, from concept to audience, including imposter syndrome, time management, and feedback. A free 45-minute introductory session is available.
Whether it's a manuscript, a partnership, or a conversation about bringing this work into your organization, send a message and I'll respond personally.